Metacognition: The Secret Skill That Helps Children Learn Better

Tania Watts
Sep 23, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Dec 11, 2025

When it comes to learning, it’s not just about what children know - it’s about how they think. Children who understand how they learn best are more confident, independent, and resilient. This powerful skill is called metacognition.

Metacognition might sound like a big word, but it’s simply the ability to think about our thinking - and it’s one of the most powerful tools we can give children to help them succeed.

What is Metacognition?

Metacognition means thinking about our thinking. It’s the ability to plan, monitor, and evaluate how we approach learning tasks.

In practice, it looks like this:

Plan before learning

“What strategies do I already know that could help me?”

Monitor during learning

“Is this working, or should I try something different?”

Reflect after learning

“What went well? What will I do next time?”

This simple cycle — plan → monitor→ reflect — is the foundation of metacognitive learning.

Why Does Metacognition Matter for Children?

Educational research is incredibly clear: Metacognition is one of the most effective ways to improve learning outcomes.

According to the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), teaching metacognitive strategies can add up to seven months of progress in a single year (EEF, 2018).

Here’s why it makes such a difference:

Boosts independence – Children take ownership of their learning.
Improves problem-solving – They adapt when strategies don’t work.
Builds resilience – Mistakes become learning opportunities, not failures.
Raises achievement – Metacognition is consistently linked to higher attainment.

Helping children understand how they learn gives them lifelong tools for success.

How to Build Metacognition: Simple Strategies That Work

You don’t need special resources or training. Here are easy ways to build metacognitive thinking at home or in the classroom:

Start with prior knowledge
Questions to ask:
- “What do I know already?”
- This activates existing understanding and boosts confidence.
Encourage planning
Questions to try:
- “What’s your plan?”
- “What steps will you take?”
- “What resources might you need?”
Add purposeful pauses
Mid-way through a task, prompt:
- “Is this working?”
- “Do you need to adjust your strategy?”
Build reflection habits
After completing a task, ask:
- “What went well?”
- “What could you try differently next time?”
Model your own thinking
Let children hear your thought process:
- “This looks tricky, so I’m going to break it into smaller steps.”
- Children learn metacognition best by watching someone else use it.

Everyday Examples of Metacognitive Thinking

Metacognition isn’t an “extra” skill - it shows up everywhere:

A child choosing a strategy to solve a maths problem
Noticing a reading approach isn’t working and switching to another
Planning homework before starting
Reflecting after football practice: “Next time I’ll pace myself better.”

These tiny moments add up to powerful learning habits.

Final Thoughts: Metacognition Is a Mindset for Life

By learning to think about how they think, children grow into:

confident learners
strategic thinkers
resilient problem-solvers
independent young people

Next time a challenge pops up, encourage your child to ask:

What’s your plan?
How’s it going?
What can you learn from this?

That’s metacognition in action - and it really does count.

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References

Education Endowment Foundation (EEF). (2018). Metacognition and Self-Regulated Learning Guidance Report.
Dignath, C., & Büttner, G. (2008). Components of Fostering Self-Regulated Learning among Students: A Meta-Analysis on Intervention Studies at Primary and Secondary School Level. Metacognition and Learning, 3, 231–264.